Spreading the word about kidney disease

Despite her health problems, Paula Ferland considers herself lucky. Ferland, 51, who teaches eighth grade mathematics and language arts at Robertsville Middle School, was diagnosed in 1990 with chronic kidney disease. The diagnosis, however, hasn't stopped Ferland from living her life and helping others.

Leean Tupper | leean.tupper@oakridger.com

Despite her health problems, Paula Ferland considers herself lucky.

Ferland, 51, who teaches eighth grade mathematics and language arts at Robertsville Middle School, was diagnosed in 1990 with chronic kidney disease. The diagnosis, however, hasn't stopped Ferland from living her life and helping others.

"I consider myself fortunate, because I don't have to have dialysis like so many others do," Ferland recently told The Oak Ridger.

Ferland said it's a constant effort to remain healthy and take care of her body, and the National Kidney Foundation has helped her do just that.

That's why, Ferland said, she wants people to be aware of the dangers of chronic kidney disease, as well as know about the NKF and its services.

Ferland's right kidney was removed in 2002, after it completely shut down and she went into renal failure.

Because of her diagnosis, Ferland said she has a lot of "residual" problems, including high blood pressure and high triglyceride levels. She takes medication for those problems as well as two medications to help her remaining kidney function as it should.

"I've always been athletic, so I try to take care of myself," she said.

After her diagnosis, Ferland said she contacted the National Kidney Foundation because "I didn't want to be tied onto dialysis and I didn't know what to do."

The NKF set her up for three weeks, free of charge, to work with a nutritionist.

Ferland said her family is no stranger to chronic kidney disease; her grandmother, a great-grandmother and an aunt all had the disease, and each had a non-functioning right kidney.

Ferland said it's important that people educate themselves and do everything they can to take care of their bodies and their health.

To help raise more awareness of chronic kidney disease and the NKF, Ferland is participating in this year's Knoxville Kidney Walk on June 11, at the University of Tennessee Gardens. The event will benefit the National Kidney Foundation of East Tennessee.